16 BOYS OF THE BIBLE.

there is silence in the air, and when half a dozen boys are
so quiet and mysteriously confidential with one another, that
an old man can come right upon them without being heard,
then I know there’s a storm brewing! Now boys, tell me
what it’s all about. You may trust me, I won’t betray you;
perhaps I may want to be a partner.”

Upon this the boys roared out aloud, and rolled upon
the summer grass in the perfect abandon of merriment, at
the thought of Dr. Sutton becoming a partner in some reck-
less scheme of mischief. So after binding the Doctor by
every solemn consideration not to breathe a word to saint
or sinner, the story of the birthday party was unfolded, and
you may be sure Dr. Sutton received a very hearty invita-
tion. The invitation was as heartily accepted, on condition
that he should be excused the river excursion, and should
be allowed to leave early.

For a while the Doctor lingered; he congratulated the
boys on the good record they had made at school the last
term, and after further pleasant talk, he said he had a
conundrum for them. <A riddle that he had been asked ten
thousand times, and he thought would be very likely to be
asked very earnestly as long as the world endured.

“Ask us the riddle, Doctor,” said one of the boys, “we
are great on conundrums.” ;

“Well,” said Dr. Sutton, “here are five of you boys, and
my riddle is composed of five little words; the riddle is not
of the funny or curious sort, but it is of vast importance,
and of the greatest importance to each one of you. This is
my conundrum :—

“What are boys good for?”

‘“‘Now answer that if you can, and don’t all speak at
once.”